Marion Athletics -

JONESBORO --- As the weather warms up, so too have the Marion Patriots.

Marion opened a three-game winning streak last Thursday evening with an 8-7 walk-off, extra-inning victory over Palestine-Wheatley, and the Pats handled business on Tuesday evening, claiming a pair of run-rule victories at Nettleton (14-1 and 10-0) Raider Field.

The conference doubleheader sweep moved Marion within a game of the final playoff spot from the 5A East with eight league contests left on the 2026 slate.

Marion's mid-week non-conference conquest of Palestine-Wheatley saw the Patriots score four times in the bottom of the second for a 4-1 lead, and three times in the home half of the fifth to tie the game, leading to junior Ladd Langley's walk-off bunt single that scored Max Molloy for the winning tally.

Langley earned the victory after pitching two innings in relief and allowing just one hit and zero runs.

Molloy (2-4 with three RBI and a run), Sully McKewen (1-3 with two runs), Solomon Flores (1-2 with a run), Robert Hall (1-3 with two RBI), and Liam Henry (two runs scored) sparked the Marion offense against Palestine-Wheatley.

Marion senior left-hander Brody Byrd started on the bump against Palestine-Wheatley, and he got through three innings with four strikeouts before giving way to Ben Bateman, who also fired three frames. Langley allowed just two baserunners in the seventh and eighth innings to pick up the win.

The Patriots took control of the first contest at Nettleton early, scoring seven times in the second inning, four times in the third, and two more times in the fourth, while barring the Raiders from the scoreboard until the bottom of the fifth.

Eight of the nine Patriot starters recorded at least one hit in the lid-lifter at Nettleton, led by Molloy (1-2 with three RBI and a run), Byrd (1-3 with an RBI and a run), Coleman Barnett (1-2), Langley (1-3 with an RBI and a run), McKewen (2-3 with three runs), Flores (1-3 with a run), Tucker Smith (1-2 with a run), Hall (2-3 with three RBI and two run) and Aidan Murphy (2-3 with two runs).

Ouachita Baptist signee Barnett earned the victory on the mound after spinning four innings of one-hit ball at the Raiders with a pair of strikeouts, before giving way to Langley for the fifth inning.

The break in between games did little to quell the Marion machine as the Patriots scored at least one run in every inning of the nightcap, striking twice in the first frame, with single tallies in the second and fourth innings, adding a pair in the third, and tossing up seven in the fifth inning.

Molloy (2-3 with two runs and two RBI), Byrd (2-3 with two runs and an RBI), Barnett (2-4 with a run and an RBI), Langley (1-2 with a run and an RBI), McKewen (two runs and two RBI), Jude Jackson (1-3 with a run and an RBI), Bateman (2-3 with two RBI and a run), and Henry (1-3 with a run scored) accounted for Marion's 11 hits.

Hall earned the victory for Marion in Game No. 2, throwing all five innings, surrendering only three hits, and striking out five Raiders.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Marion hosts Collierville (TN.) on Thursday and Wynne on Friday for non-conference tilts. Those games will not be broadcast on the Marion Patriots Activities Network, so fans are encouraged to join in person.

The Patriots continue 5A East play Tuesday evening with a league doubleheader at Paragould, beginning at 4:30, and you can watch the Paragould double-dip for free on MPAN.

5A EAST RESULTS FROM 4/7
Marion 14, Nettleton 1
Marion 10, Nettleton 0

Greene Co. Tech 21, W. Memphis 0
Greene Co. Tech 10, W. Memphis 0

Valley View 13, Batesville 3
Valley View 14, Batesville 5

Searcy 6, Paragould 1
Searcy 7, Paragould 1

5A EAST STANDINGS ON 4/8
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
Greene Co. Tech 6-0
Valley View 6-0
Searcy 6-0
Batesville 3-3
Marion 2-4
Paragould 1-5
Nettleton 0-6
W. Memphis 0-6
Top four teams make state tournament at Greene Co. Tech.

5A EAST SERIES ON 4/14
Marion at Paragould
Greene Co. Tech at Batesville
Nettleton at Valley View
W. Memphis at Searcy